Jacques reflects back on this past year. It felt more like twenty! Detox was just a little taste of his journey that lay ahead.
How he loathed himself and now he had to face all this sober. His mentor and sponsor, once said, “You will love again the stranger who was your self.”
No one told him the first step started within and not pointing fingers. Improve what you need to improve but do the work yourself. It was so much easier to blame someone else for his misfortunes.
Accepting responsibility for his actions was probably the toughest pill to swallow. He has finally forgiven himself even if some still cannot. He’s accepted that truth too.
He sits in the front row at the legion hall, waiting to be called up to the front to share his story and accept his one year chip.
© Cheryl-Lynn ‘20/08/2019
On Monday, August 19th, Kim is hosting Prosery at dVerse. This prompt is where you write a flash fiction using a maximum of 144 words including that line of poetry.
This week the line is “you will love again the stranger who was your self” from Derek Walcott’s poem Love after Love.
Tournesol dans un Jardin 
Thank you for linking up your story of Jacques, Cheryl-Lynn. A year of detox must be so hard, no wonder it felt more like twenty – and trying to stay on the straight and narrow, too! Thank goodness for support from those who’ve been through it, they give hope.
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Thanks! I think this story was a bit ambitious…it would take several sober years to get to this place but I like the ring to it with the one year chip. I enjoyed the writing a prosery though…nice! Thank you for hosting this.
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I think Jacques is on the right way… I think once you realize that not everyone will forgive you … you are on your way to accept the way forward.
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Exactly! and being accountable for your past instead of blaming family, society, etc. Merci pour votre visite!
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No doubt that line is one of the most important concepts in 12 step programs and the fact that he was there for his one year chip says volumes–that he is working the program.
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It IS truly a great line too. Thanks for stopping by.
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